Collapsible last



May 18, 1954 A. w. MGNEILL COLLAPSIBLE LAST Filed Dec. 8, 1951 Pat nted y 195 UNITED STATES hATENT OFFICE GOLLAPSIBLE LAST Alexander W. McNeil], Saugus, Mass.

Application December 8, 1951, Serial No. 260,675

16 Claims. 1

This invention comprises a new and improved last having novel characteristics which adapt it particularly well for use in the slip lasted process of shoemaking, although they may be embodied with advantage in all other types of lasts.

In the manufacture of slip lasted shoes, it is the practice to spindle the last on a vertical pin and to swing its toe portion upwardly into an approximately 45 position as the most convenient for pulling the previously fashioned upper upon the last. This operation is usually carried out by a powerful operator who exerts such a strong pull through the upper upon the toe portion of the collapsed last that frequently a section is split out from the bottom of the last while in other cases the plates of the last hinge are caused to cut through the wooden bottom of the last.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a last in which the toe portion may be supported in the upwardly inclined collapsed position of the last above described in such a manner that the wood in the bottom of the forepart is not subjected to excessive direct splitting force. The invention further contemplates a construction which will permit quick and substantial shortening of the last when it is collapsed in order that it may be withdrawn easily from the upper without undue strain.

In one aspect my invention is characterized by last hinge mechanism including a positive retaining latch which is automatically engaged when the last is collapsed and which transfers to its own metal parts the strain caused by the powerful pull of the operator increased in magnitude by the leverage of the forepart. This would otherwise be resisted only by wooden parts of the last.

Another essential requirement is that the-operations of locking and unlocking the last must be effected instantaneously and this is effected in the improved last of my invention by a primary spring latch which automatically engages when the last is elongated and which may be readily disengaged by a slight movement when the last is to be collapsed. Going more into detail, the,

last hinge plates of my invention include a bowed link herein shown as anchored in the forepart of the last and extending diagonally andupwardly into position to engage a stationary catch or abutment located in the top of the heel member. While a positive latch is provided in this manner, the latch link itself is bowed in shape so that it may slightly elongate in case the closed or lengthened last is subjected to excessive or improper pressure in the sole leveling machine, or otherwise. The slight yield permitted in this manner prevents the anchor pins from being pulled out of position, thus permanently damaging the last while at the same time the link is effective through its resiliency to restore the two parts of the last accurately to their proper relationship upon the removal of such improper distorting force.

As herein shown and in accordance with another important feature of my invention, the latch link is so shaped and controlled in its movement that it makes a secondary latching engagement in the collapsed position of the last and holds the toe portion in the required upwardly inclined position for the reception of this strengthen and stiffen the last in the sole leveling operation where the leveling pressure is often exerted in an oblique or lateral direction. As herein shown, the latch plate in the heel portion is utilized for this second function by being provided beneath its intermediate latching abutment with a forward extension that projects into the slot of the forepart.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation, partly in section, of the last in collapsed condition,

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the main portions of the last in extended position, and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing connecting mechanism of modified construction.

lhe last herein shown comprises a forepart HI and an intenfitting heel part H. The mating faces of these parts are complementary to each other except that they diverge toward the cone of the last to provide an open space into which an operating portion of the connecting mechanism projects so that it may be unlatched for collapsing the last. The heel part i I is provided with a slot or rout l2 and in the mating face of the forepart is formed a registering slot or rout P3 in which the connecting mechanism is housed.

' The mating faces are shouldered at an intermediate point to form an interlocking engagement when the last is lengthened or expanded.

The connecting mechanism comprises an elongated tension link it which comprises two identioal spaced members herein shown as curved and slotted but not necessarily so. They are provided with. an anchor pin 15 in the forepart, and an anchor pin E6 in the heel part of the last. These links are disposed in the lower portion of the last and are themselves. the subjectmatter of my prior Patent No. 2,188,414 dated January 30, 1940 although they are herein shown as employed in a new combination.

The two members of the tension link, M. are. separated by an intermediate latch plate l? formed at its upper end to provide a latching abutment it and having a second or inner latching abutment it at an intermediate point in its forward edge. The latch plate is a stationary element and is fastened in place in the slot 12 by the anchor pin l5 and a second transverse pin Zfilocated about midway between itstwo latching;

abutments. The plate constitutes means presenting two latching abutments disposed at differentv levels in the last, the abutment l9 being nearer the bottom of the last than the abutment It.

A bowed latching link 2 l is pivotally mounted upon the forepart anchor pin it in the slot l3 and has an outer hook-shaped end adapted to engage and fit either the latching abutment E8 or the inner abutment it as the case may be.v

The head of the link extends into the divergent open space which is located immediately in front of the cone of the'last so that it may be conveniently reached to. be disengaged from' the" latching abutment 58 in the straightened last. It has an external rounded surface so that it may also be engaged by projecting a wedge upwardly into the space between it and the inner face of the heel partof the last and is perforated; so that it may be engaged by a book if desired.

The. link 2i is bowed. so that it may flex and lengthen slightly to relieve the last of improper excess pressure if it should be mistreated in use. In .Fig. 2.the forepart of. the last is shown as provided with acompression spring 22 which is arranged; to bear upon the convex, edge of the. latch link. 2! and press the link always against the'forward edge of the latch plate ii and also 5 to cause its latching head to interlock with one.

or other of the latching abutments E8 or ill; It will. be understood that any suitable form of spring be employed. In Fig. 3 there is shown a, leaf spring 26 curved at its lower end: 5:;

to embrace the curved ends of the tension link it and bowedto engage the convex edge of the latch link 2!.

In Fig. 3 a latch plate of modified contour is shown, the plate being provided with a forwardly extending projection 23 in its periphery below the latching abutment it. This extension projects freely into the slot E3. of the forepart. Its forward edgeis curved to correspond to-the concaveedge curvature of the link 2! sothat it may 7 extend forwardly into the body of the-forepart ill as far-as possible without'in any way interfering with the latching and unlatching-movement of the link 2!.

The action of the connecting parts shown in.

displacement thereof. In this figure the latch link 2! is shown as provided in its lower end with a projecting shoulder 25 located to engage the end of the leaf spring 24 and hold it against displacement in the forepart of the last.

The double construction of the tension link M is of particular advantage in the connecting mechanism of this invention in that the two parts of the link support the latch link 2| on both sides and so hold it in a central position in the slot l3 and in exact transverse alignment with the latch plate H. The hooked end of the latch link is therefore guided along the curved edge. of the latch plate without danger of lateral displacement, and latching engagement with the abutments. I 8 and is is positively assured. If desired the two parts of the tension link it can be extended upwardly to provide a more extensive bearing; area on the link 2! than is actually shown in Fig. 3. In general it has been found beneficial to fill in the slots !2 and 53 with as much. metal as possible without. interfering with the function of the parts in order, tomaintain. and. support the two parts of the last in fixed longitudinal relation.

An advantage of the construction above described is that in all. positionsof closing, after. the operator has pulled the forepart of the shoe. upon the last, the closing of the last. to locking.

position is fully under the controlof the ope1ta.-. There is no snap action that might catch. the upper imprope ly placed upon the last. but;

tor.

on the. contrary the operator can stop. the closing movement of the last at any time. for straightening the back seam or otherwise. positioning the upper and. then. continue the closing movement by degrees simultaneously with ad." justment of the upper.

It will be seen. that when thelast is, lengthened, the shoulders of the mating faces of its two parts interlock and are held together by the tension link I l while any separation of the parts is pr,e

vented by engagement of the latch link 2|. with.

the latching abutment it. of the stationary latch plate. When now it is desired to collapse the last, the latch link 2| is swung forwardly by a hook or wedge suiiiciently to disengage the latching abutment l8. Thereupon the forepart. may

. be swung upwardly into theposition. shown in Fig. 1. while the head of the latchlink 2i. rides along the curved front edge surface of the. latch. ing plate ll. The upward swing of the toe .portion Ill is positively arrested. when the hook of. the latch link 2! engages the intermediate or inner latching abutment [S of the latch plate.

This position of the parts is shown in Fig. 1 from, which it will, be noted that the. spring 22-11olds the latch link under substantial pressure in.

latched position and therefore yieldingly supports the forepart Illofj the last in itsupwardly projecting position conveniently for the receptionot the upper.

After the upper has been pulled onto the forepart and located over the heel part, the last be extended and lengthened by merely pressing downwardly on the forepart. the forepart' is rocked downwardly, the hookedhead of the latch I lever 2! rides downwardly upon the forward edge 7 of the latch, plate ll until it reaches the position of Fig. 4 and interlocks with the latching abutment I8.

Having thus disclosed my invention and" de scribed in detail illustrative embodiments theraof, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1; A collapsible last comprising a heel portion having a stationary latch plate therein presenting catch abutments at two different points in its periphery, a forepart portion having a latch link pivotally mounted therein and shaped to engage one catch abutment when the last is collapsed and the other abutment when the last is elongated, and a tension link pivotally connecting the heel and forepart portions of the last.

2. A collapsible last comprising heel and foreparts having mating contact surfaces, an anchor pin in each part of the last and a tension link connecting said pins, together with a stationary latch plate secured in place in the heel part by its said anchor pin and presenting catch abutments at its upper end and at an intermediate point in one edge, and a latch link pivotally mounted in the anchor pin of the forepart and shaped to engage one at a time of said catch abutments.

3. A collapsible last as described in claim 2 in which the latch link is bowed and thus permitted to yield and relieve the application of excessive pressure to the last.

4. A collapsible last as described in claim 3 in which a spring is provided in the foreport of the last and is effective to hold the latch link engaged with said intermediate abutment when the last is collapsed.

5. A collapsible last comprising heel and foreparts having mating surfaces, a latch plate rigidly fastened in the heel portion of the last and having a curved surface terminating in a catch abutment, a pivoted latch link in the forepart having a hooked end slidable on the curved surface of the latch plate into engagement with said catch abutment when the last is collapsed, and a spring for yieldingly maintaining such engagement and thus holding the forepart in its collapsed position.

6. A collapsible last comprising heel and foreparts having mating surfaces, a tension link pivotally connected at its opposite ends to the respective parts of the last, a latch link pivotally mounted in the forepart of the last, means in the heel part of the last presenting catch abutments at different levels, and a spring biasing the latch link into engagement with one abutment when the last is collapsed and into engagement with the other abutment when the last is expanded.

'7. A collapsible shoe last comprising interfitting heel and foreparts having aligned routs and connecting means disposed in the routs and including a link having an anchor pin in each last part, means in the heel part rout presenting fixed abutments at different levels therein, a latch lever pivotally mounted in the forepart rout and having a catch for releasably locking the last parts in expanded position through the medium of one of said fixed abutments and releasably locking the last parts in collapsed position through the medium of the other fixed abutment for limiting the movement of the forepart beyond a predetermined angular position with respect to the axis of the last.

8. A collapsible last having interfitting heel and foreparts provided with registering slots in their mating faces, a tension link connecting the said parts near the bottom of the last, a metallic latch plate fast in the slot of the heel part and having a forward extension projecting movably into the slot of the forepart and spaced latching abutments in its periphery, and a spring operated latching link pivotally mounted in the slot of the forepart for engagement with the said latching abutments respectively when the last is straightened or collapsed.

9. A collapsible last as described in claim 8 in which a pair of spaced tension links are employed and the latch link is located between the two tension links and thereby held in a central position in the last.

10. A collapsible last as described in claim 8 in which a leaf spring is located in the forepart of the last and curved to bear on the back of the latch link, and the latch link has a projecting shoulder bearing against the end of the spring.

11. A collapsible last comprising heel and foreparts, and connecting mechanism comprising tension links, a latch plate fast in the heel part having spaced latching abutments in its periphery and a forward extension which is received in the body of the forepart, a bowed latch link pivotally mounted in the forepart adjacent to one end of the tension link and having a hooked end shaped to engage the edge of the latch plate, and a spring bearing upon the convex edge of the latch link and acting to interlock it with either of said abutments.

12. A collapsible last comprising heel and foreparts, and connecting mechanism comprising a double tension link having anchor pins at its end in the respective last parts, a bowed latch link pivotally mounted on the anchor pin in the forepart between the members of the double tension link and having a hook shaped end with a rounded exterior, a latch plate fastened in the heel part by the heel part anchor pin and projecting forwardly into the body of the forepart, having also a latching abutment at its upper end and another latching abutment at an intermediate point in its forward edge, and a leaf spring in the forepart urging the latch link at all times toward the said latch plate.

13. A collapsible last comprising heel and foreparts having mating surfaces, a latch plate fastened in the heel part of the last and having a continuous edge surface terminating in. a catch abutment, a pivoted latch link in the forepart having a hooked end slidable on the said edge surface of the latch plate into engagement with its catch abutment when the last is collapsed, and a spring for maintaining such engagement and thus holding the forepart in its collapsed position.

14. A collapsible last comprising heel and foreparts having mating surfaces, a latch plate rigidly fastened in one portion of the last and having an inner catch abutment located fully within the body theerof, a latch link pivoted in the other part of the last and having a hooked end engageable with said catch abutment when the last is collapsed thereby holding the forepart against rearward pressure, a second catch abutment located nearer to the top of the last than said inner catch abutment, and a spring urging the link into engagement with one of the abutments as the last is collapsed and the other of the abutments as the last is straightened.

15. A collapsible shoe last comprising interiitting heel and foreparts having aligned routs, and part connecting means disposed in the routs and including a link having an anchor pin in each part, a heightwise catch plate fixedly mounted in the heel part rout, a latch lever pivotally mounted in the forepart rout, cooperative means on the lever and the upper portion of the catch plate for releasably locking the last parts in expanded condition, said catch plate having a lever cooperating means on the lower portion thereof for limiting upward movement 7 V of: the f rward p rtion of heheel; part bey nd a predetermined spaced position with respect to the; linliwhen the last par-ts are moved to collapsed condition.

7 16. A shoe last according to claim 15 characterizedby the fact that the two lever cooperative means are'formed in the forward edge of the catch plate and the lever is yieldablyurged into engagement with the said forward edge of the catch plate;

fie crenqe it d in he-file O this Pate UNITED, STATES PATENTS mbe 

